Boris Johnson has "forgotten his old phone code" so can't supply the messages

[cakeorwine]

Boris Johnson ‘has forgotten’ passcode for phone wanted by Covid inquiry | Covid inquiry | The Guardian

It's like getting blood out of a stone.
First he was late to supply the messages.
Then he forgets his passcode.

I am sure there are ways to get in to it.

Why don't they ask the recipient of those messages for their phone?
Even if they've been deleted, they would be able to get them back.

He thinks we’re all stupid.

I absolutely hate him.

Wouldn’t they just

Lying twat!

The real issue, though, is why he is going to get away with it?

Watching Newsnight.

Apparently the "Johnson camp" is terribly upset that all these delays (out of his control, folks!) are making him look like he's trying to delay things.

Kirsty is struggling not to laugh.

...makes him look like he's trying to hide things.

Sorry, laughing too hard to write straight.

The poor little lamb. How could people be so mean as not to believe him?

On Radio 4 now.

Seems the Government have the code written down.

Isnt there a newspaper he could contact to borrow one of those phone hackers to get in for him?

He's just a dick.

I have a work phone and we're not allowed to change the passcode. The IT dept then know the codes for everyone's phones. As is their right, as it's a work phone and they should be able to have access at all times.

I can't believe it doesn't work the same way with the government.

I cannot believe this man was ever the leader of this country.

put him in a prison cell until he remembers

Why doesn't he just delete the messages?

Hmm, I think "leader" is a bit of a strong word - remember his explanation of how he "accidently" came to be in so many lockdown parties - apparently his officials were leading him around without explanation, and he never knew where he was or where he was going....

I bet they crack this code or whatever and discover his deleted most of it anyway.

I strongly dislike this new trend of demanding WhatsApp messages of senior politicians.

They should be able to have confidential conversations without fearing they're going to be broadcast for all the world to see.

The results and outputs of the discussions are all that matters.

FWIW I think the govt made quite poor decisions during lockdown but I judge them on the policies they enacted not their internal deliberations.

its certainly possible, but given its Boris he’s likely lying and no-one will believe this

Maybe senior politicians shouldn't conduct Government business via WhatsApp.

Do you think that people should be able to see memos, papers etc that influence Government decisions?

We have a record of decision making so people can be held accountable. Meetings are minuted. Memos kept.

Is the same Boris Johnson that’s been fired more than once for dishonesty, and was recently found to have deliberately lied to Parliament?

🤔

Brosi Johnson is a lying twat.

He has always been a lying twat. He will always be a lying twat. That the country voted a lying twat to be Prime Minister is a stain on us, imo.

No, they were the government - they don't get the privacy that private individuals do, and they are paid accordingly.

Since the invention of meeting minutes people have been having quiet off-the-record conversations in the hallway before the meeting... WhatsApp is just that in digital form.

If you think this isn't the case I assume you're not a senior decision-maker.

Confidential channels where you can brainstorm ideas that aren't politically palatable and you feel safe to express your true opinions and concerns are critical.

There are so many issues that the COVID inquiry should address. Like whether lockdown should be part of our pandemic strategy going forward and the long-term effects on all parts of society. This WhatsApp crap is a stupid irrelevant distraction.

I judge Boris harshly for his COVID/lockdown actions, I'm not defending him. But I don't need to see his private conversations during a highly uncertain time to make that decision.

Personal messages yes, WhatsApp messages talking about work should be admissible in the course of an investigation or actually an FOI if you work in the public sector though just as teams chats etc are. I don't see the issue personally, if you use these platforms instead of emails or traditional channels to talk about work then I don't see why they shouldn't be considered- otherwise people could just use them without any accountability.

People who have been abused by the way and have evidence on their phones in the form of whatsapps and messages have to hand their phones over to police if they want them taken into consideration and they're victims. The PM who's action are being looked into as part of a formal inquiry should be fair game.

His pants are on fire.